Flowers and Cards and Talks

I've been blessed to be a pretty healthy person throughout my life. I had a bout of strep throat in Kindergarten that ended up settling in my hip {Yeah. Figure THAT one out.} And I fell off my bike when I was eleven and broke my leg. Other than that - pretty healthy.

The nurse even commented on it when she was getting me ready for surgery. {Funny how I didn't FEEL especially healthy in that moment!!}

But if there's one thing I've learned from this little gallternity leave I've had...it's a fresh appreciation for reaching out to those who ARE sick.

* Words cannot express my outrageous joy at seeing the flower man pull up in front of my house with a bouquet for me. I know flowers don't thrill the soul of every human the way they do mine, but it sure did make my day to know someone was thinking of me and willing to make a phone call to order some flowers.

* To have people take time out of their busy days to put together a dinner to go and drop it by our house was a much bigger deal than I ever imagined it could be. We had SO MANY people ask if we needed meals, and in typical Shaffer fashion, we waved them away and declared we were fine. Ryan can cook. I was sure I would be able to cook in no time. But in truth, Ryan has been exhausted from working and then taking care of me {while still fighting that stupid respiratory infection} and I haven't even felt like warming anything UP, much less cooking. What a BLESSING to have meals dropped by.

* My mom gave up a day to sit and watch TV with me. A couple of friends came over to hang out and talk on their lunch hours. I know how precious lunch hours are. To know that people would sacrifice theirs to come and look at a girl who hadn't showered for a questionable amount of days  = priceless.

* Ryan's grandpa and my parents came to sit with him while I was in surgery. I was out. I knew little of it. But as scared as I was to go to sleep...I loved knowing I could fall asleep knowing people were with him. He didn't seem scared at all. I corner that market. But I felt better knowing he had support. Just in case.

* I hobbled to the door to get the mail...and found funny cards inside that made my side hurt. To know that people wanted to send a card just to cheer me up was a spirit-booster.

* People have texted and emailed to make sure I'm okay, which has made me feel so loved. You've sat here and read through the details of my surgery and recovery, which is kind beyond measure.

People offered snacks, coke and coffee runs, rice bags...and so many more things that I am afraid I'm going to forget one and leave someone out. But my point in saying all this is...regardless of what people did...whether it was a prayer, a text, or a meal, it let me know that having a village of friends is a good thing. It manifests in all different ways. One way was not more important than another. I didn't appreciate one more and one less. They have all come together in one big picture of love and care, and it has moved me to be more intentional.

We're all busy people.

We all have reasons why we don't have the time or the money to reach out to someone who is sick or recovering. And maybe, like me, some of us just haven't experienced what the need is like. We think it's no big thing...until it becomes our big thing. And then we know in a fresh new way.

So as you look around your circle of friends, what do you have that someone could use? Could be a few minutes of talking. Or a dinner. Or a sweet tea. Or a text. Or a prayer from wherever you are.

Thankful that God has used this season of forced down-time to teach me this lesson. Looking for specific ways to put it into practice!!